Laundry washing machine

ABSTRACT

A laundry washing machine having an outer casing, washing tub, rotatable drum inside the tub, detergent dispenser, and fresh-water supply circuit for channeling fresh water to the tub. The machine has an electrochemical device having: an electrolytic cell to convert brine into chlorine-based sanitizing agent, an unpressurized salt container to contain consumable salt grains, a water supply line to channel water into the salt container to dissolve the salt grains and form brine, and an unpressurized brine container that communicates with the salt container and collects brine formed in the salt container to avoid prolonged stagnation of the water/brine in the salt container. The electrolytic cell communicates with the brine container so as to receive the brine contained therein.

The present invention relates to a laundry washing machine.

More in detail, the present invention relates to a front-loading homelaundry washing machine, to which the following description specificallyrefers purely by way of example without this implying any loss ofgenerality.

As is known, a front-loading home laundry washing machine generallycomprises: a substantially parallelepiped-shaped outer boxlike casingstructured for resting on the floor; a substantiallyhorizontally-oriented and approximately cylindrical washing tub which isusually suspended in floating manner inside the casing, with the frontmouth directly facing a laundry loading-unloading through opening formedin the front wall of the casing; a substantially cylindrical, cup-shapedrotatable drum structured for accommodating the laundry to be washed,and which is fitted in axially rotatable manner inside the washing tubwith the concavity facing the laundry loading-unloading opening, so asto be able to freely rotate inside the washing tub about thesubstantially horizontally-oriented, longitudinal axis of the washingtub; an elastically-deformable bellows which watertight connects thefront mouth of the washing tub to the laundry loading-unloading openingformed in the front wall of the casing; a porthole door which is hingedto the front wall of the casing to rotate to and from a closing positionin which the door closes the laundry loading-unloading opening in thefront wall of the casing for watertight sealing the washing tub; and anelectrically-powered motor assembly which is structured for driving intorotation the rotatable drum about its longitudinal axis inside thewashing tub.

This type of laundry washing machine furthermore comprises: a detergentdispenser which is located inside the boxlike casing, immediately abovethe washing tub, and is structured for selectively feeding into thewashing tub, according to the washing cycle manually-selected by theuser, a given amount of detergent, softener and/or other washing agentsuitably mixed with water arriving from the water mains; a fresh-watersupply circuit which is structured for selectively drawing water fromthe water mains according to the washing cycle manually-selected by theuser, and channelling said water to the detergent dispenser or directlyto the washing tub; and finally an appliance control panel which isgenerally located on the front wall of the casing, above the laundryloading-unloading opening, and is structured for allowing the user tomanually select the desired washing-cycle.

In the past years, several attempts have been made to incorporate, intothe laundry washing machine, an electrochemical device capable ofinternally producing a chlorine-based sanitizing agent to be selectivelymixed with water directed towards the washing tub, so as to sanitize orbleach the laundry during the washing cycle, on request of the user.

EP0146184 and EP0083740 disclose a laundry washing machine provided witha salt container which is adapted to contain a given amount of brine,i.e. a solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) in water, and an electrolyticcell which receives the brine from the salt container and is adapted toperform the electrolysis of said brine to produce a chlorine-basedsanitizing agent which is subsequently channelled into the washing tub.

Unfortunately, due to the particular layout of the hydraulic circuit ofthe laundry washing machine, in both cases the salt container consistsof a water-tight and manually-openable container which is located closeto the bottom of the casing, with all problems that this entails.

For example, on refilling of the salt container, the user is requestedto adopt an uncomfortable excessively-bended stance for manually pouringthe sodium-chloride grains into the salt container.

Furthermore, the refilling of the salt container is a relatively longand complicated operation because the salt container is normally filledup with brine, thus there is the risk that some brine accidentallyoverflows from the salt container when the sodium-chloride grains (NaCl)are too quickly poured into the salt container.

Moreover, after refilling, salt grains accidentally remaining on themouth of the salt container may compromise the watertight sealing of theclosure plug, thus causing water leakages.

Aim of the present invention is to simply and make easier the manualrefilling of the salt container of the laundry washing machinesdisclosed in EP0146184 and in EP0083740, and also to simply thehydraulic circuit of the same laundry washing machines so as to reducethe overall production costs.

In compliance with the above aims, according to the present inventionthere is provided a laundry washing machine as defined in Claim 1 andpreferably, though not necessarily, in anyone of the dependent claims,or as defined in Claim 22 and preferably, though not necessarily, inanyone of the dependent claims.

A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed, by way of example, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laundry washing machine realized inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention, with partsremoved for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the FIG. 1 laundry washingmachine, with parts in section and removed for clarity;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the top of the laundry washingmachine shown in FIG. 1, with parts removed for clarity;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the detergent dispensingassembly of the laundry washing machine shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, withparts removed for clarity;

FIG. 5 is a partly exploded perspective view of the detergent dispensingassembly shown in FIG. 4, with parts removed for clarity;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the detergent dispensing assembly shown inFIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a partly exploded perspective view of the detergent dispensingassembly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, with parts removed for clarity;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are partly exploded perspective views of the electrolyticreactor assembly shown in FIG. 7, with parts removed for clarity;

FIG. 10 is a partially exploded perspective view of the detergent drawerof the detergent dispensing assembly shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, withparts removed for clarity;

FIG. 11 is a sectioned side view of the detergent drawer shown in FIG.10, with parts removed for clarity;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of thedetergent dispensing assembly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5; whereas

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 are perspective views of respective furtheralternative embodiments of the laundry washing machine shown in FIGS. 1,2 and 3.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, reference number 1 denotes as awhole a laundry washing machine 1 preferably suitable for domestic use.

More in detail, the laundry washing machine 1 preferably basicallycomprises: a preferably substantially parallelepiped-shaped, boxlikeouter casing 2 structured for stably resting on the floor; a preferablysubstantially horizontally-oriented, approximately cylindrical, hollowwashing tub 3 which is arranged inside the casing 2 with the mouthdirectly facing a laundry loading-unloading opening formed on the outercasing 2; a substantially cylindrical, hollow rotatable drum (not shown)which is structured for accommodating the laundry to be washed, and isfitted in axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub 3 so as to beable to freely rotate about its longitudinal axis inside the washing tub3; a door 4 which is hinged to the outer casing 2 so as to be manuallymovable to and from a closing position in which the door 4 closes thelaundry loading-unloading opening on casing 2 for watertight sealing thewashing tub 3; and an electrically-powered motor assembly 5 which isstructured for driving into rotation the rotatable drum (not shown)about its longitudinal axis inside the washing tub 3.

In the example shown, in particular, the washing tub 3 preferably has apreferably substantially circular-shaped, front mouth and is arrangedinside the outer casing 2 with said front mouth directly facing alaundry loading-unloading opening formed on a front wall 6 of casing 2;whereas the door 4 is preferably hinged to front wall 6 so as to bemanually movable to and from a closing position in which the door 4closes the laundry loading-unloading opening on front wall 6 forwatertight sealing the washing tub 3.

Furthermore, the washing tub 3 is preferably suspended in floatingmanner inside the casing 2 via a suspension system that preferably,though not necessarily, comprises at least one, and preferably a coupleof upper coil springs 7 connecting the upper portion of washing tub 3 tothe top of casing 2, and preferably at least one, and preferably acouple of vibration dampers 8 connecting the bottom portion of washingtub 3 to the bottom of casing 2.

Preferably the laundry washing machine 1 moreover comprises anelastically-deformable tubular bellows (not shown) which watertightconnects the front mouth of washing tub 3 to the laundryloading-unloading opening preferably realized on the front wall 6 ofcasing 2.

The rotatable drum, in turn, is preferably substantially cup-shaped andis fitted in axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub 3 with theconcavity facing the front mouth of washing tub 3. Preferably therotatable drum (not shown) is furthermore arranged inside washing tub 3with the drum rotation axis locally substantially coaxial to thelongitudinal axis of washing tub 3 (i.e. it is oriented substantiallyhorizontally), and with the circular front mouth of the drum directlyaligned and faced to the front mouth of washing tub 3, so as to receivethe laundry to be washed through the laundry loading-unloading openingpresent on front wall 6.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the laundry washing machine 1moreover comprises, inside the casing 2, a detergent dispenser 10 and afresh-water supply circuit 11.

The detergent dispenser 10 is located inside the casing 2 above thewashing tub 3 and preferably, though not necessarily, immediatelyunderneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2, and isstructured for selectively feeding into the washing tub 3, preferablyaccording to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, a givenamount of detergent, softener and/or other washing agent suitably mixedwith water.

The fresh-water supply circuit 11, in turn, is directlyconnected/connectable to the water mains, and is structured forselectively channelling, preferably according to the washing cyclemanually-selected by the user, a flow of water from the water mains tothe detergent dispenser 10 and/or directly to the washing tub 3.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, the laundry washing machine 1furthermore includes an electrochemical device 13 which is locatedinside the boxlike casing 2 and is capable of internally producing achlorine-based sanitizing agent which is subsequently channelled intothe washing tub 3 to perform, preferably on request of the user, asanitizing or bleaching process of the laundry during the washing cycle.Preferably this chlorine-based sanitizing agent is moreoverwater-diluted bleach.

More in detail, the electrochemical device 13 is preferably connected tothe detergent dispenser 10 and is capable of internally producing achlorine-based sanitizing agent which is preferably subsequentlychannelled into the detergent dispenser 10. On arrival into thedetergent dispenser 10, this chlorine-based sanitizing agent preferablythen flows directly into the washing tub 3, preferably, though notnecessarily, together with any water directed towards the washing tub 3.

The electrochemical device 13 firstly includes: an unpressurized saltcontainer 14 which is adapted to contain a given amount of consumablesalt grains, i.e. solid salt, preferably of sodium chloride (NaCl), andadditionally has an unsealed loading inlet which is directly exposed orexposable to the outside of the boxlike casing 2, and is preferablyspecifically designed to allow the user to easily manually pour/load thesalt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) directly into the same saltcontainer 14; and preferably also a water supply line 15 which isadapted to channel, on command, a given amount of water into the saltcontainer 14 so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grainscontained therein and form a given amount of brine, i.e. a solution ofsodium chloride (NaCl) in water.

Preferably salt container 14 is moreover dimensioned to contain anamount of consumable salt grains sufficient for performing thesanitizing or bleaching process in several washing cycles.

More in detail the salt container 14 is preferably dimensioned tocontain an amount of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl)sufficient for producing an amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agentsufficient for performing the sanitizing or bleaching process in severalwashing cycles.

The electrochemical device 13 furthermore includes an electrolyticreactor 16 which fluidically communicates with the salt container 14,and is adapted to collect and contain substantially the whole brinepreviously formed into the salt container 14, so as to avoid anyprolonged stagnation of the water/brine intro the salt container 14.This electrochemical reactor 16 is furthermore adapted to internallyconvert the brine into the chlorine-based sanitizing agent, andpreferably also to subsequently channel/feed said chlorine-basedsanitizing agent to the detergent dispenser 10.

In other words, the electrolytic reactor 16 is provided with a brineinlet communicating with the salt container 14 for receiving the brineproduced into the latter, and with a sanitizing-agent outletcommunicating with the detergent dispenser 10 for supplying thechlorine-based sanitizing agent to the detergent dispenser 10 ordirectly to the washing tub 3. Preferably, the electrolytic reactor 16is moreover provided with at least one air vent for releasing the air orother gas contained or formed inside the same electrolytic reactor 16.

In addition to the above, the electrolytic reactor 16 is preferablylocated beneath the salt container 14 and preferably directlycommunicates with the same salt container 14 so as to allow the brine(i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity from the salt container 14to the electrolytic reactor 16.

More in detail, electrolytic reactor 16 preferably comprises: anunpressurized brine container 17 that directly communicates with thesalt container 14 and is adapted/dimensioned to collect and containpreferably the whole brine previously formed into the salt container 14,so as to avoid any prolonged stagnation of the water/brine intro thesalt container 14; an electrolytic cell 18 which is preferablylocated/incorporated into the brine container 17 and is capable ofconverting the brine into a chlorine-based sanitizing agent; andpreferably also a small, electrically-powered pump assembly 19 which iscapable of selectively pumping the chlorine-based sanitizing agentaccumulated into the brine container 17, from the brine container 17 tothe detergent dispenser 10. Preferably the pump assembly 19, whendeactivated, is moreover capable of watertight isolating the brinecontainer 17 from the detergent dispenser 10.

In the example shown, in particular, the brine container 17 ispreferably located immediately underneath the salt container 14 andpreferably directly communicates with the same salt container 14 so asto allow the brine (i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity from saltcontainer 14 to brine container 17.

The electrolytic cell 18, in turn, is preferably adapted to perform theelectro-chlorination of the brine contained into the brine container 17,so as to produce hydrogen gas (H₂) and water-diluted sodium hypochlorite(NaClO), commonly known as bleach. This water-diluted sodiumhypochlorite (NaClO) preferably forms the chlorine-based sanitizingagent.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, in the example shown, in particular,the whole electrochemical device 13 is preferably arranged inside thecasing 2, above the washing tub 3 and preferably, though notnecessarily, also immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall12 of casing 2.

In other words, the salt container 14 is preferably arranged inside thecasing 2 above the washing tub 3 and preferably, though not necessarily,also immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing2. Preferably the loading inlet of salt container 14 is furthermoreexposed or exposable to the outside on front wall 6 of casing 2, abovethe laundry loading-unloading opening. The electrolytic reactor 16, inturn, is preferably located between the salt container 14 and thewashing tub 3, preferably substantially vertically aligned to the saltcontainer 14.

Furthermore, the whole electrochemical device 13 is preferably locatedimmediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2,between the detergent dispenser 10 and a vertical sidewall 20 of thesame casing 2.

In other words, the salt container 14 is preferably located inside theboxlike casing 2, between the detergent dispenser 10 and the verticalsidewall 20 of casing 2, preferably substantially adjacent to the samevertical sidewall 20. The electrolytic reactor 16, in turn, ispreferably located immediately underneath the salt container 14, againpreferably substantially adjacent to the vertical sidewall 20.

Preferably the loading inlet of salt container 14 is furthermore exposedor exposable to the outside on the front wall 6 of casing 2, immediatelybeneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2.

In addition to the above, the whole electrochemical device 13 ispreferably adjoined to the detergent dispenser 10.

More in detail, in the example shown the electrochemical device 13 andthe detergent dispenser 10 preferably form a single assembly unit.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, in addition to the above, the laundrywashing machine 1 furthermore comprises: an appliance electronic controlunit (not shown) which is located inside the casing 2 and controls themotor assembly 5, the detergent dispenser 10, the fresh-water supplycircuit 11 and the electrochemical device 13, so as to automaticallyperform the washing cycle preferably selected by the user; andpreferably also a control panel 21 which electronically communicateswith said electronic control unit and is structured to allow the user tomanually select the desired washing cycle preferably among a number ofavailable washing cycles.

In the example shown, in particular, the control panel 21 is preferablylocated on the front wall 6 of casing 2, above the laundryloading-unloading opening and preferably also immediately beneath theupper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2. Whereas the exposed orexposable loading inlet of salt container 14 is preferably located onthe front wall 6 of casing 2 substantially horizontally aligned besidethe control panel 21.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 11, detergent dispenser 10, in turn,preferably basically comprises: a detergent drawer 22 which ispreferably provided with one or more substantially basin-shaped,detergent compartments 23 (two detergent compartments 23 in the exampleshown) each structured for being manually fillable with a given amountof detergent, softener or other washing agent, and which isfitted/inserted in manually extractable manner into a correspondingpreferably substantially basin-shaped, drawer housing 24 which, in turn,is located/recessed inside the casing 2 above washing tub 3, and whoseentrance is preferably located on front wall 6 of casing 2, preferablyabove the laundry loading-unloading opening; and a drawer flush circuit25 which is connected to the fresh-water supply circuit 11 for receivingthe water of the water mains, and is structured for selectivelychannelling/pouring, when the detergent drawer 22 is completelyfitted/inserted into the drawer housing 24, said water into any one ofthe detergent compartments 23 of detergent drawer 22, so as toselectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out ofthe same detergent compartment 23 and down onto the bottom of drawerhousing 24.

Preferably this drawer flush circuit 25 is furthermore directlycontrolled by the appliance electronic control unit.

More in detail, the detergent drawer 22 is preferably movable inside thedrawer housing 24 parallel to a substantially horizontally-oriented,longitudinal axis L of drawer housing 24 between: a retracted position(see FIG. 5) in which detergent drawer 22 is completely fitted/insertedinto drawer housing 24, so as to be almost completely recessed into thefront wall 6 of casing 2; and a completely extracted position (see FIGS.1, 2, 3, 4 and 7) in which detergent drawer 22 partly juts out from thefront wall 6 of casing 2, so as to expose the one or more detergentcompartments 23 at once.

In other words, detergent drawer 22 is movable inside the drawer housing24 in a substantially horizontally-oriented, displacement direction dwhich is locally substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L ofboth drawer housing 24 and detergent drawer 22, between: a retractedposition (see FIG. 5) in which detergent drawer 22 is almost completelyrecessed into the front wall 6 of casing 2 and the one or more detergentcompartments 23 of detergent drawer 22 are inaccessible to the user; anda completely extracted position (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7) in whichdetergent drawer 22 partly juts out from the front wall 6 of casing 2,so that all detergent compartments 23 of detergent drawer 22 are fullyaccessible to the user at same time.

In the example shown, furthermore, the entrance of drawer housing 24 ispreferably located on front wall 6 of casing 2, immediately underneaththe upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 and substantiallyhorizontally aligned beside the control panel 21. Furthermore thelongitudinal axis L of detergent drawer 22 and drawer housing 24, and asa consequence the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 22, ispreferably locally substantially perpendicular to the front wall 6 ofcasing 2.

Preferably each detergent compartment 23 is additionally dimensioned tocontain a given amount of detergent, softener or other washing agentsufficient for performing only a single washing cycle.

In addition to the above, the detergent drawer 22 preferably has, on thebottom or on a sidewall of each detergent compartment 23, a largethrough opening (not shown) which is suitably shaped/dimensioned toallow the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washingagent formed inside the same detergent compartment 23 to freely fall onthe bottom of drawer housing 24. As an alternative to the large throughopening, the detergent drawer 22 may have, inside the detergentcompartment 23, a siphon assembly (not shown) which is suitablystructured/designed to selectively channel the mixture of water anddetergent, softener or other washing agent formed inside the detergentcompartment 23 out of the same detergent compartment 23 and down ontothe bottom of drawer housing 24.

The drawer flush circuit 25, in turn, is preferably structured fordirectly pouring/channelling, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in theretracted position, a shower of water droplets by gravity selectivelyand alternatively into any one of the detergent compartments 23 ofdetergent drawer 22, so as to selectively flush the detergent, softeneror other washing agent out of the same detergent compartment 23 and downonto the bottom of drawer housing 24.

In addition to the above, with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 7, 10 and 11,the detergent drawer 22 is preferably additionally provided with asubstantially basin-shaped, salt compartment 26 which is located besidethe one or more detergent compartments 23, and is structured/dimensionedfor containing a given quantity of consumable salt grains to be used forproducing the brine to be channelled into the electrolytic reactor 16,i.e. into the brine container 17.

Preferably the salt compartment 26 is moreover dimensioned to contain anamount of consumable salt grains sufficient for producing an amount ofchlorine-based sanitizing agent sufficient for performing the sanitizingor bleaching process in several washing cycles.

More in detail, in the example shown the salt compartment 26 ispreferably dimensioned to contain a maximum amount of salt grains ofsodium chloride (NaCl) preferably equal to approximately 0.6 Kg (Kilos)and which suffices for successfully performing the sanitizing orbleaching process during a number of washing cycles preferably rangingbetween 5 and 15.

The salt container 14 of electrochemical device 13, therefore, ispreferably incorporated into the detergent dispenser 10, or rather intothe detergent drawer 22 of detergent dispenser 10. The electrolyticreactor 16, in turn, is preferably adjoined to the drawer housing 24 ofdetergent dispenser 10.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 11, furthermore the salt compartment 26 ispreferably arranged, on detergent drawer 22, beside the one or moredetergent compartments 23 transversally to the displacement direction dof detergent drawer 22, i.e. transversally to the longitudinal axis L ofdetergent drawer 22, so that both detergent compartment/s 23 and saltcompartment 26 are allowed to almost contemporaneously come out from thefront wall 6 of casing 2 when detergent drawer 22 moves from theretracted position to the extracted position.

Detergent drawer 22 is therefore movable inside drawer housing 24 indisplacement direction d between: a retracted position (see FIG. 5) inwhich detergent drawer 22 is completely recessed into the front wall 6of casing 2, so that both detergent compartment/s 23 and saltcompartment 26 are inaccessible to the user; and a completely extractedposition (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7) in which detergent drawer 22partly juts out from the front wall 6 of casing 2, so that bothdetergent compartment/s 23 and salt compartment 26 are simultaneouslyfully exposed and accessible to the user.

The drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10, in turn, ispreferably additionally structured for selectively and separatelychannelling, when detergent drawer 22 is in the retracted position, thewater of the water mains also into the salt compartment 26, so that saidwater can dissolve some of the salt grains contained into the saltcompartment 26 to form the brine (i.e. salt water).

In other words, the water supply line 15 of electrochemical device 13 ispreferably incorporated into the detergent dispenser 10, or rather intothe drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10.

As a result, the drawer flush circuit 25 is preferably structured forselectively and separately pouring/channelling, when the detergentdrawer 22 is completely fitted/inserted into drawer housing 24, thewater arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit 11 into any one ofthe detergent compartments 23 and also into the salt compartment 26.

In case of each detergent compartment 23, the poured water serves toselectively flush the contents of the detergent compartment 23 out ofthe same compartment 23 and down on the bottom of drawer housing 24 viathe corresponding through opening or siphon assembly. In case of saltcompartment 26, the poured water serves to dissolve some of theconsumable salt grains contained into the salt compartment 26 to formthe brine (i.e. salt water).

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, in addition to the above thedetergent drawer 22 preferably has, on the bottom of salt compartment26, a large pass-through drain opening 27 which is suitablyshaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formedinside the salt compartment 26 to freely fall by gravity on the bottomof drawer housing 24.

The fresh water that the drawer flush circuit 25 selectivelypours/channels into the salt compartment 26, therefore, serves todissolve some of the consumable salt grains contained therein to formthe brine (i.e. salt water) that subsequently freely fall by gravity onthe bottom of drawer housing 24 via the drain opening 27.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 and 11, in the example shown, inparticular, detergent drawer 22 preferably comprises: a substantiallybasin-shaped, drawer main body 28 which is fitted/inserted in axiallysliding manner into the drawer housing 24, and is shaped/dimensioned tobe totally recessed/accommodated inside the drawer housing 24; and amanually-sizable front panel 29 which is arranged/located on a frontside of the drawer main body 28, so as to close the entrance of drawerhousing 24 when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position.The drawer main body 28, furthermore, is preferably made in a one piececonstruction via an injection moulding process, and the one or moredetergent compartments 23 and the salt compartment 26 are preferablydirectly formed on the drawer main body 28, one side by side the other.

Preferably, the detergent drawer 22 additionally includes a preferablymanually-removable, water-permeable cover 30 that closes the drainopening 27, and additionally has a water-permeable structure designedfor preventing the salt grains to accidentally spill out of the saltcompartment 26 via the drain opening 27 and, at same time, for allowingthe brine to freely flow out of the salt compartment 26 via the drainopening 27.

Preferably the water-permeable cover 30 furthermore has awater-permeable structure suitably designed/dimensioned to slow down theoutflow of the brine from the salt compartment 26 via the drain opening27, thus to temporary increase/rise the level of the water/brine intothe salt compartment 26.

In other words, the water-permeable cover 30 is arranged above the drainopening 27 so as to completely cover the latter, and is preferablystructured to allow the passage of the water/brine through the samewater-permeable cover 30 with a flowrate which is lower than that of thewater channelled/poured into the salt compartment 26 by the water supplyline 15, or rather by the drawer flush circuit 25, so as to cause atemporary increase/rise of the level of the water inside the saltcompartment 26.

The drain opening 27 and the water-permeable cover 30, therefore, form abrine draining system that allows the brine formed inside the saltcompartment 26 to freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing24 preferably after a short stay (for example 1 to 3 minutes) into thesalt compartment 26.

With particular reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, preferably thewater-permeable cover 30 has a substantially platelike structure andpreferably moreover extends inside the salt compartment 26 above thewhole bottom of the salt compartment 26, preferably slightly spacedfrom, and locally substantially parallel to, the bottom of saltcompartment 26, so as to form a thin air gap immediately above thebottom of salt compartment 26. Said thin air gab allows the brine toquickly flow on the bottom of the salt compartment 26 towards the drainopening 27.

In the example shown, in particular, the water-permeable cover 30preferably consists in a rigid platelike body which is preferably madeof plastic material, which preferably substantially copies the shape ofthe bottom of salt compartment 26, and which has a microperforatedstructure suitably dimensioned to slow down the flow of the brinethrough the same platelike body 30 thus to cause a temporaryincrease/rise the level of the water/brine into the salt compartment 26,above the same platelike body 30.

More in detail, the central portion of platelike body 30 is preferablyprovided with a plenty of substantially evenly distributed, transversalpass-through microslots or microholes each preferably having across-sectional area lower that 3 mm² (square millimetres), so as toallow the flow/passage of the brine/water through the platelike body 30with a flowrate preferably ranging between 0.4 and 1 litre/min (litreper minute). The flowrate of the water poured into the salt compartment26 instead preferably ranges between 5 and 8 litre/min (litre perminute).

In addition to the above, with reference to FIGS. 4, 7, 10 and 11, thedetergent drawer 22 preferably additionally comprises a manuallyopenable, upper lid assembly 31 which is firmly fitted on the drawermain body 28, on top of the salt compartment 26, and is structured toselectively close the upper mouth of salt compartment 26, preferably soas to almost completely cover said upper mouth.

Furthermore, the upper lid assembly 31 is additionally structured so asto be able to receive, from drawer flush circuit 25 and at least whendetergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, a flow of waterand to channel said water into the beneath-located salt compartment 26,preferably while spreading out the same water inside the saltcompartment 26.

In other words, the upper lid assembly 31 is preferably provided with awater inlet which is faced to the outside of salt compartment 26 and isstructured to allow the water to enter into the same upper lid assembly31, and with one or more water outlets which are faced to the inside ofsalt compartment 26, fluidically communicate with said water inlet, andare finally suitably structured to allow the water previously enteredinto the upper lid assembly 31 through the water inlet to come out ofthe lid assembly 31 and fall into the salt compartment 26.

The drawer flush circuit 25, in turn, is preferably structured toselectively channel, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retractedposition, a flow of water towards the water inlet of the upper lidassembly 31.

In other words, drawer flush circuit 25 is preferably additionallystructured to selectively channel, when detergent drawer 22 is placed inthe retracted position, the water arriving from the fresh-water supplycircuit 11 towards the water inlet of lid assembly 31 which, in turn, isstructured to distribute the water arriving from drawer flush circuit 25into the salt compartment 26, so as to dissolve some of the consumablesalt grains contained into the salt compartment 26 and form the brine(i.e. the salt water) that falls on the bottom of drawer housing 24 viathe drain opening 27.

In addition to the above, in the example shown the water inlet of lidassembly 31 is preferably furthermore structured to selectively couplein a stable, though easy detachable manner, with the drawer flushcircuit 25 for receiving the water arriving from fresh-water supplycircuit 11, only when the detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retractedposition; whereas the upper lid assembly 31 is preferably structured todrip the water into the salt compartment 26.

According to an alternative embodiment, however, the drawer flushcircuit 25 could be structured to selectively channel, when detergentdrawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, a flow of water directlyinto the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22 bypassing the upperlid assembly 31.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 10 and 11, in the example shown, inparticular, the upper lid assembly 31 preferably comprises: a platelikemember 32 which is structured to rigidly fit into the upper rim of thesalt compartment 26 to substantially completely cover/close the uppermouth of the salt compartment 26; and a preferably substantiallyrectangular-shaped, manually-movable trapdoor 33 which is arranged toclose a complementary-shaped, pass-through opening which is preferablyformed nearly in the middle of platelike member 32, and is moreoversuitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the user to easily manuallypour/load the consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) into thesame salt compartment 26.

More in detail, the manually-movable trapdoor 33 is preferablyflag-hinged to platelike member 32 at one of the two longer sides of thecentral pass-through opening, so as to be able to freely rotate about areference axis locally substantially coplanar to the platelike member 32and preferably also substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L ofboth drawer housing 24 and detergent drawer 22.

Preferably the platelike member 32 furthermore has a hollow structureand is provided with a water inlet 34 which is suitably structured towatertight couple, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retractedposition, with the drawer flush circuit 25 thus to allow the water toenter into the platelike member 32; and with one or more water-outlets35 which are arranged on the lower face of platelike member 32,preferably all around the central pass-through opening closed bytrapdoor 33, so as to face the inside of salt compartment 26.

The drawer flush circuit 25, in turn, is preferably structured toselectively couple, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retractedposition, with the water inlet 34 of platelike member 32, so as to beable to channel the water of the water mains directly into the platelikemember 32 of lid assembly 31. Each water-outlet 35, in turn, allows thewater previously entered into the platelike member 32 to slowly come outof platelike member 32 and freely fall into the salt compartment 26.

Preferably the water-outlets 35 of platelike member 32 are furthermoresuitably shaped/structured to pour a shower of water droplets by gravityinto the salt compartment 26.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 7, the drawer housing 24, in turn, ispreferably divided into two separated and substantially basin-shaped,bottom portions 36 and 37 which are located, when detergent drawer 22 isplaced in retracted position, one underneath all detergent compartments23 of detergent drawer 22 and the other underneath the salt compartment26 of detergent drawer 22.

More in detail, the bottom of drawer housing 24 is preferably divided bya substantially vertical, partitioning wall into two separated andsubstantially basin-shaped bottom portions 36 and 37, which are arrangedside by side to one another transversally to the displacement directiond of detergent drawer 22 inside drawer housing 24, i.e. transversally tothe longitudinal axis L of drawer housing 24.

The basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24 is verticallyaligned, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position,to the one or more detergent compartments 23 of detergent drawer 22 forreceiving/collecting the mixture of water and detergent, softener orother washing agent falling down from any one of the detergentcompartments 23, and moreover directly communicates with thebeneath-located washing tub 3.

More in detail the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 preferably directlycommunicates with the inside of washing tub 3 via a specific connectingduct 38 that branches off from the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 andends directly into the beneath-located washing tub 3. The connectingduct 38 allows the mixture of water and detergent, softener or otherwashing agent to quickly and freely flow by gravity directly intowashing tub 3.

The basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24, in turn, isvertically aligned, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retractedposition, to the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22 and forreceiving/collecting the brine (i.e. the salt water) trickling/fallingdown from the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22 via drainopening 27, and moreover directly communicates with the beneath-locatedelectrolytic reactor 16.

More in detail the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 preferably directlycommunicates with the inside of the beneath-located electrolytic reactor16, or rather with the inside of the beneath-located brine container 17,so as to allow the brine to freely flow by gravity from the basin-shapedbottom portion 37 to the electrolytic reactor 16, or rather to the brinecontainer 17, and accumulate therein.

With reference to Figures from 4 to 7, the drawer flush circuit 25 ofdetergent dispenser 10, in turn, preferably comprises: a platelike waterconveyor 40 which is suitably structured/designed to form the upper lidof the drawer housing 24, so as to be located immediately above thedetergent drawer 22 when the latter is placed in the retracted position,i.e. when the latter is completely inserted/recessed into the drawerhousing 24 (see FIG. 5), and is provided with a number of water deliveryportions each suitably structured to allow the outflow of water from theplatelike water conveyor 40 towards the beneath-located detergent drawer22; and preferably also an electrically-operated, water distributor 41which is connected to the fresh-water supply circuit 11 for receivingthe fresh water of the water mains, and is suitably structured toselectively channel said fresh water towards any one of the waterdelivery portions of platelike water conveyor 40. Preferably the waterdistributor 41 is furthermore directly controlled by the applianceelectronic control unit.

More in detail, in the example shown the water conveyor 40 is preferablylocated immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 ofcasing 2.

Preferably the platelike water conveyor 40 furthermore has, on its lowerface (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24),a group of first water delivery portions which are locally substantiallyvertically aligned, when the detergent drawer 22 is placed in theretracted position, each to a respective detergent compartment 23 ofdetergent drawer 22. Each first water delivery portion of platelikewater conveyor 40 is suitably structured to let the water arriving fromwater distributor 41 to slowly fall into the beneath-located detergentcompartment 23.

In the example shown, in particular, each first water delivery portionof platelike water conveyor 40 is preferably structured to pour bygravity a shower of water droplets directly into the beneath-locateddetergent compartment 23.

Preferably the platelike water conveyor 40 furthermore has, on its lowerface, a second water delivery portion which is substantially verticallyaligned, when the detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retractedposition, to the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22, and issuitably structured to let the water arriving from water distributor 41to slowly fall into the beneath-located salt compartment 26.

More in detail, the second water delivery portion is preferablystructured to couple with the water inlet 34 of upper lid assembly 31for channelling the water into the upper lid assembly 31.

In the example shown, in particular, the second water delivery portionpreferably consists in a male or female hydraulic connector (not visiblein the figures) that protrudes from the lower face of platelike waterconveyor 40 (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawerhousing 24), locally parallel to the displacement direction d, and issuitably arranged to couple, when the detergent drawer 22 is placed inthe retracted position, in detachable manner with a complementary secondhydraulic connector which is incorporated into the water inlet 34 ofupper lid assembly 31, or rather into the water inlet 34 of platelikemember 32, so as to put the upper lid assembly 31 in direct fluidcommunication with the platelike water conveyor 40.

With reference to FIG. 6, preferably the platelike water conveyor 40moreover has, on its lower face (i.e. on the side directly facing thebottom of drawer housing 24), a third water delivery portion which isboth substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion36 of drawer housing 24 and misaligned to the detergent drawer 22 placedin retracted position.

This third water delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40 issuitably structured to pour/channel the water arriving from waterdistributor 41 directly into the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 ofdrawer housing 24, without affecting/reaching the detergentcompartment/s 23.

The drawer flush circuit 25, therefore, is preferably also capable ofselectively channelling the water of the water mains directly into thewashing tub 3 bypassing the detergent compartment/s 23 of detergentdrawer 22.

Preferably the platelike water conveyor 40 moreover has, on its lowerface (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24),a fourth water delivery portion which is both substantially verticallyaligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 andmisaligned to the detergent drawer 22 placed in retracted position.

This fourth water delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40 issuitably structured to pour/channel the water arriving from the waterdistributor 41 directly into the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24, without affecting/reaching the salt compartment 26.

The drawer flush circuit 25, therefore, is preferably also capable ofselectively channelling the water of the water mains directly into theelectrolytic reactor 16, or rather into the brine container 17 ofelectrolytic reactor 16, bypassing the salt compartment 26 of detergentdrawer 22.

Therefore, in the example shown the laundry washing machine 1 ispreferably additionally provided with an auxiliary water supply linecapable of selectively channelling the water of the water mains directlyinto the brine container 17 of electrolytic reactor 16.

With reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, the electrically-operated, waterdistributor 41, in turn, is preferably discrete from the platelike waterconveyor 40, and is preferably firmly coupled/associated to theplatelike water conveyor 40 at a corresponding coupling socket (notvisible in the figures) preferably realized on the lower face of theplatelike water conveyor 40.

Preferably this water distributor 41 furthermore has a water inlet (notvisible in the figures) which directly communicates with the fresh-watersupply circuit 11 for directly receiving the water of the water mains;and a number of water outlets 42 which are located, preferably one sideby side the other, on the interface portion of water distributor 41suited to couple with the complementary coupling socket present in theplatelike water conveyor 40.

The platelike water conveyor 40, in turn, is preferably provided with anumber of independent water inlets (not visible in the figures) that arelocated at coupling socket and separately communicate each with arespective water delivery portion of the same water conveyor 40 via acorresponding internal connecting channel 43 extending inside the bodyof the platelike water conveyor 40. Each water outlet 42 of waterdistributor 41 is preferably structured to watertight couple/connect, atcoupling socket of platelike water conveyor 40, with a correspondingwater inlet of the same water conveyor 40.

In the example shown, in particular, the water distributor 41 preferablyconsists in an electrically-operated, discrete flow-diverter modulewhich is firmly attached to the outside of platelike water conveyor 40,at said coupling socket, and is directly controlled by the applianceelectronic control unit so as to selectively and alternatively channelthe water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit 11 towards anyone of the water delivery portions of platelike water conveyor 40.

More in detail, the discrete flow-diverter module 41 preferablyinternally accommodates: a rotatable flow diverter which is capable ofchannelling, according to its angular position, the water entering intothe same flow-diverter module 41 via the water inlet towards any one ofthe water outlets 42; and an electrically-operated driver assembly (notshown) which is mechanically connected to the rotatable flow diverterand is capable of controlling/varying the angular position of the sameflow diverter according to the electronic signals arriving from theappliance electronic control unit.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, preferably the platelike water conveyor40 of drawer flush circuit 25 is moreover fludically connected to theelectrolytic reactor 16 for receiving the chlorine-based sanitizingagent produced therein, and is additionally provided with an internalsanitizing-agent delivery line 44 structured/designed for separatelychannelling the chlorine-based sanitizing agent arriving fromelectrolytic reactor 16 directly into the basin-shaped bottom portion 36of drawer housing 24, preferably without affecting/reaching thedetergent compartment/s 23.

In other words the platelike water conveyor 40 is preferably fludicallyconnected to sanitizing-agent outlet of electrolytic reactor 16.

More in detail, the sanitizing-agent delivery line 44 of water conveyor40 preferably includes: a sanitizing-agent inlet 45 preferably directlycommunicating with the sanitizing-agent outlet of electrolytic reactor16 for receiving the chlorine-based sanitizing agent produced therein;and a sanitizing-agent delivery portion which directly communicatessolely with the sanitizing-agent inlet 45 via a specific internalconnecting channel 46 extending inside the body of platelike waterconveyor 40, and which is located on the lower face of the waterconveyor 40 (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawerhousing 24), both substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shapedbottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24 and preferably misaligned to thedetergent drawer 22 placed in retracted position.

The sanitizing-agent delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40 ispreferably suitably structured to directly pour/channel thechlorine-based sanitizing agent arriving from the electrolytic reactor16 directly onto the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing24, actually without affecting/reaching the detergent compartment/s 23.When arrived into the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing24, this chlorine-based sanitizing agent freely flows by gravity alongthe connecting duct 38 up to the washing tub 3, preferably, though notnecessarily, together with any water or mixture of water and detergent,softener or other washing agent almost contemporaneously arriving intothe basin-shaped bottom portion 36.

Preferably the platelike water conveyor 40 additionally includes: an airinlet 47 that directly communicates with the air vent of electrolyticreactor 16 for receiving any air or other gas contained or formed insidethe electrolytic reactor 16; and preferably also a correspondinginternal air duct that extends inside the body of the water conveyor 40and is adapted to exhaust said air or other gas out of the sameplatelike water conveyor 40. More specifically, said internal air ductpreferably ends into one or more holes adapted to discharge inside thedrawer housing 24 the air or other gas arriving from the electrolyticreactor 16.

With reference to FIG. 7, in the example shown, in particular, thesanitizing-agent inlet 45 of water conveyor 40 preferably consists in afirst male of female hydraulic connector which preferably protrudesdownwards from the lower face of platelike water conveyor 40 (i.e. fromthe side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24) spaced apartfrom the coupling socket of platelike water conveyor 40, and whileremaining locally substantially perpendicular to the same lower face ofplatelike water conveyor 40.

The air inlet 47 of water conveyor 40, in turn, preferably consists in asecond male of female hydraulic connector which preferably protrudesdownwards from the lower face of platelike water conveyor 40 (i.e. fromthe side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24) both adjacentto the hydraulic connector of sanitizing-agent inlet 45 and spaced apartfrom the coupling socket of platelike water conveyor 40, and whileremaining locally substantially perpendicular to the lower face ofplatelike water conveyor 40.

The hydraulic connector of sanitizing-agent inlet 45 and, if present,the hydraulic connector of air inlet 47 are preferably adapted towatertight couple with corresponding and complementary hydraulicconnectors present in the electrolytic reactor 16.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the brine container 17 ofelectrolytic reactor 16, in turn, preferably includes a pair ofunpressurized storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49 that are horizontallyadjoined to one another and are in permanent fluid communication to oneanother via a pass-through opening 50, which is directly formed in thepartitioning wall between the same storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49,preferably adjacent to the bottom of both storage tanks or vessels 48and 49.

Obviously, due to the presence of pass-through opening 50 the level ofthe liquid is always the same in both unpressurized storage tanks orvessels 48 and 49.

In combination to one another, these unpressurized storage tanks orvessels 48 and 49 are preferably dimensioned to receive and accumulatesubstantially the whole brine arriving on the same bottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24.

More in detail, in the example shown the ensemble of storage tanks 48and 49 is preferably firmly fixed/secured to the drawer housing 24 andto the platelike water conveyor 40 by means of one or more anchoringscrews and/or one or more releasable mechanical couplings, and ispreferably dimensioned to catch and accumulate a given amount of brinepreferably ranging between 100 and 250 ml (millilitres).

Additionally, the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 48 is preferablylocated immediately underneath the drawer housing 24, preferablysubstantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion 37of drawer housing 24, and directly communicates with the basin-shapedbottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 so as to receive the brinearriving on the same bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24.

In other words, the brine inlet of electrolytic reactor 16 is preferablylocated in the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 48.

Preferably the unpressurized storage tank 48 is furthermore rigidlyfixed/secured to the bottom of drawer housing 24 by means of one or moreanchoring screws and/or one or more releasable mechanical couplings.

Furthermore the storage tank or vessel 48 is preferably directlyconnected to the superjacent basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawerhousing 24 so that the brine arriving onto the bottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24 is allowed to freely flow by gravity into the samestorage tank or vessel 48.

More in detail, in the example shown the storage tank or vessel 48preferably directly communicates with the basin-shaped bottom portion 37of drawer housing 24 via at least one and preferably a pair of tubularextensions 51 that protrude downwards from the bottom of drawer housing24, directly communicate with the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24, and lastly directly fit in substantially watertightmanner each into a respective complementary-shaped opening 52 formed ontop wall of the same storage tank or vessel 48.

In other words the storage tank or vessel 48 preferably directlycommunicates with the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing24 via one or more tubular extensions 51 protruding downwards from thebottom of drawer housing 24 and directly communicating with thesuperjacent basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24.

With reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9, the unpressurized storage tankor vessel 49, in turn, internally accommodates the two, preferablyplatelike, electrodes 53 of electrolytic cell 18, and is preferablylocated between the storage tank or vessel 48 and the vertical sidewall20 of casing 2. Furthermore the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 49preferably directly communicates with the platelike water conveyor 40 ofdetergent dispenser 10, so as to be able to feed the chlorine-basedsanitizing agent and optionally also the air or other gas contained orformed inside the same storage tank or vessel 49 to the platelike waterconveyor 40.

In other words, the sanitizing-agent outlet and preferably also the airvent of electrolytic reactor 16 are preferably located in theunpressurized storage tank or vessel 49.

More in detail, in the example shown the unpressurized storage tank orvessel 49 preferably has a flattened boxlike structure and is preferablyarranged adjacent to a sidewall of the drawer housing 24, preferablynearly perpendicular to the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2and/or nearly parallel to vertical sidewall 20 of casing 2. Preferablythe unpressurized storage tank or vessel 49 furthermore extendsdownwards beyond the bottom of drawer housing 24, locally substantiallytangent to the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 48.

Preferably the upper edge of storage tank or vessel 49 moreover stablyabuts against the platelike water conveyor 40, and the sanitizing-agentoutlet and the air vent of electrolytic reactor 16 are preferablylocated on this upper edge.

More in detail, the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 49 preferablyhas, on its upper edge, two hydraulic connectors 55 and 57 which arecomplementary to the hydraulic connectors 45 and 47 of platelike waterconveyor 40, and are adapted to couple in substantially watertightmanner with the hydraulic connectors 45 and 47 of platelike waterconveyor 40.

Preferably the storage tank or vessel 49 is finally rigidlyfixed/secured to the platelike water conveyor 40 and/or to the drawerhousing 24 by means of one or more anchoring screws and/or one or morereleasable mechanical couplings.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, preferably the electrolytic cell 18of electrolytic reactor 16 in turn comprises: the aforesaid two,preferably platelike, electrodes 53 accommodated in the unpressurizedstorage tank or vessel 49; and preferably also an electric power unit(not shown) which is preferably controlled by, or incorporated into, theappliance electronic control unit, and is adapted to selectively apply agiven electric DC voltage to the electrodes 53 preferably so as to causethe electro-chlorination of the brine contained into the brine container17, i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks 48 and 49, thus preferablyproducing hydrogen gas (H₂) and water-diluted sodium hypochlorite(NaClO), commonly known as bleach.

This sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) is the chlorine-based sanitizing agentthat pump assembly 19 subsequently moves into the basin-shaped bottomportion 36 of drawer housing 24 via the platelike water conveyor 40 ofdetergent dispenser 10.

According to an alternative embodiment, the electrolytic cell 18 mayalso include a water-permeable partitioning septum or membrane (notshown) that divides the inside of storage tank or vessel 49 into twocomplementary inner compartments each accommodating a respectiveplatelike electrode 43. In this case, the DC voltage applied onelectrodes 53 causes the electrolysis of the sodium chloride (NaCl) andthe consequent production of chlorine (Cl) and sodium hydroxide (causticsoda).

With reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the pump assembly 19, in turn, ispreferably firmly fixed/secured to both storage tanks or vessels 48 and49, and is capable of pumping/moving, on command of the applianceelectronic control unit, the chlorine-based sanitizing accumulated intothe ensemble of unpressurized storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49, fromthe ensemble of storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49 to the platelikewater conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10.

More in detail, the pump assembly 19 is preferably configured to suckthe chlorine-based sanitizing agent from the bottom of storage tank orvessel 48 and to feed/pump said chlorine-based sanitizing agent into anauxiliary vertical duct 58 that preferably extends in pass-throughmanner inside the storage tank or vessel 49, up to the platelike waterconveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10.

In other words, the vertical duct 58 preferably extends inside thestorage tank or vessel 49 up to the hydraulic connector 55 located onthe upper side of storage tank or vessel 49.

Preferably, when deactivated, the pump assembly 19 is moreover capableof watertight isolating the ensemble of unpressurized storage tanks orvessels 48 and 49 from the platelike water conveyor 40 of detergentdispenser 10.

More in detail, in the example shown the pump assembly 19 preferablybasically comprises an electrically-powered membrane pump or otherelectrically-powered volumetric pump, which preferably has a firstduckbill valve or other non-return valve at suction mouth of the pump,and a second duckbill valve or other non-return valve at delivery mouthof the pump. The suction mouth 19 a of the pump is preferably directlyconnected to the storage tank or vessel 48, preferably close to bottomof storage tank or vessel 48 and/or close to the pass-through opening 50communicating with storage tank or vessel 49, and preferably alsobeneath a filtering structure 59 located inside the same storage tank orvessel 48. The delivery mouth of the pump, in turn, is preferablyconnected to the lower mouth of vertical duct 58 via a tubularconnecting member 60 preferably additionally capable of firmly lockingthe pump to the ensemble of storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49.

With reference to FIG. 9, preferably the electrolytic reactor 16additionally includes a detector device 61 capable ofmonitoring/detecting the level and/or salinity degree of the water orbrine momentarily contained into the brine container 17, i.e. into theensemble of storage tanks 48 and 49, and which preferably electronicallycommunicates with the appliance electronic control unit.

In the example shown, in particular, the detector device 61 ispreferably located inside the storage tank or vessel 48, preferablyabove the filtering structure 59, and preferably comprises: a firstfloating member 62 capable of floating when the liquid contained intothe storage tank or vessel 48 is either fresh water or salt water; asecond floating member 23 capable of floating solely when the watercontained into the storage tank or vessel 48 is fresh water; and a localelectronic control unit 64 capable of detecting when each of the twofloating members 62 and 63 arrive on top of storage tank or vessel 48.

With particular reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7, the fresh-watersupply circuit 11 of laundry washing machine 1, in turn, comprises: amain water delivery line 70 which is connected/connectable to the watermains and is structured to channel, on command, the fresh water of thewater mains towards the drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser10, or rather towards the water inlet of water distributor 41; andoptionally also an auxiliary water delivery line 71 which isconnected/connectable to an alternative external water source of hotfresh water (for example the hot branch of the piping, fittings, andfixtures generally involved in the distribution and use of hot water ina domestic building), and is structured to independently channel, oncommand, the hot fresh water of said alternative water source towardsthe washing tub 3, preferably via the platelike water conveyor 40 ofdetergent dispenser 10.

Obviously both main water delivery line 70 and auxiliary water deliveryline 71 are preferably directly controlled by the appliance electroniccontrol unit.

Preferably, the main water delivery line 70 basically comprises: a firstelectrically-operated on-off valve 72 which is preferably located on arear wall of boxlike casing 2, preferably immediately underneath theupper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2, is directly connectable to thewater mains, and is preferably directly controlled by the applianceelectronic control unit; and a first tube 73 connecting the on-off valve72 to the water inlet of the water distributor 41.

The auxiliary water delivery line 71, in turn, preferably basicallycomprises: a second electrically-operated on-off valve 74 which ispreferably located on the rear wall of boxlike casing 2, preferablyimmediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2, isconnectable to the alternative external water source and is preferablydirectly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit; and asecond tube 75 connecting the on-off valve 74 to a corresponding tubularextension 76 that preferably protrudes downwards from the lower face ofthe platelike water conveyor 40 preferably while remaining locallysubstantially perpendicular to the latter, and moreover directlycommunicates with one of the water delivery portions of water conveyor40 vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawerhousing 24.

With reference to FIG. 6, finally the laundry washing machine 1preferably, though not necessarily, includes an auxiliary water drainline 80 that braches off from the drawer flush circuit 25 and preferablyends directly into the drain sump (not shown) beneath the washing tub 3,or even directly into the suction of the electric pump that drains thewaste water or washing liquor outside the laundry washing machine 1; andthe drawer flush circuit 25 is capable of selectively channelling,towards the water drain line 80, any kind of water arriving into thesame drawer flush circuit 25.

More in detail, in the example shown the water drain line 80 preferablybasically includes: a drain tube 81 having a first end connected to acorresponding tubular extension 82 preferably protruding downwards fromthe lower face of the platelike water conveyor 40 while remaininglocally substantially perpendicular to the latter, and a second endconnected to the drain sump beneath the washing tub 3; and preferablyalso an air-gap device 83 located upstream of drain tube 81. The waterdistributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25, in turn, is capable ofselectively channelling, towards the drain tube 81, any kind of waterentering into the drawer flush circuit 25.

General operation of the laundry washing machine 1 is easily inferablefrom the description above. The appliance electronic control unitcontrols the motor assembly 5, the detergent dispenser 10, and thefresh-water supply circuit 11 so as to automatically perform the washingcycle preferably selected by the user via the control panel 21.

In addition to the above, if the user selects a washing cycle includinga sanitizing or bleaching step, the appliance electronic control unitcontrols/activates the electrochemical device 13 so as to timelyproduce, during the washing cycle, a given amount of chlorine-basedsanitizing agent to be subsequently used in the sanitizing or bleachingstep of the same washing cycle.

More in detail, timely before the sanitizing or bleaching step, theappliance electronic control unit activates the water supply line 15 ofelectrochemical device 13 (i.e. controls the water distributor 41 ofdrawer flush circuit 25) so as to channel a given amount of fresh waterof the water mains into the salt container 14 (i.e. into the saltcompartment 26 of detergent drawer 22). On arriving into the saltcontainer 14 (i.e. into the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22),the fresh water dissolves at least part of the salt grains containedinto the same salt container 14 thus forming a given amount of brinethat freely flows and accumulates into the beneath-located brinecontainer 17 of electrolytic reactor 16 (i.e. into the ensemble ofstorage tanks 48 and 49).

When a sufficient amount of brine is contained into the brine container17 of electrolytic reactor 16 (i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks48 and 49), the appliance electronic control unit activates the electricpower unit of electrolytic cell 18 so as to perform theelectro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the brinecontainer 17 (i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks 48 and 49). Thechlorine-based sanitizing agent resulting from theelectro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine then accumulates insidethe brine container 17 (i.e. inside both storage tanks 48 and 49).

After a given timespan preferably ranging between 5 and 30 minutes, theappliance electronic control unit assumes that theelectro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the brinecontainer 17 (i.e. inside both storage tanks 48 and 49) is completed andthat a suitable amount of the chlorine-based sanitizing agent isactually contained into the same brine container 17.

Finally, when the sanitizing or bleaching step of the washing cycle isto be performed, the appliance electronic control unit activates thepump assembly 19 of electrolytic reactor 16 so as to move substantiallythe whole chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulated into the brinecontainer 17 (i.e. into both storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49), fromthe brine container 17 to the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawerhousing 24 preferably via the sanitizing-agent delivery line 44 ofplatelike water conveyor 40. When arrived into the basin-shaped bottomportion 36, the chlorine-based sanitizing agent freely flows by gravityinto the connecting duct 38 and arrives into washing tub 3.

The advantages regarding the particular layout of the electrochemicaldevice 13 are large in number.

First of all, the hydraulic circuit of laundry washing machine 1 issignificantly simpler than that of the laundry washing machinesdisclosed in EP0146184 and EP0083740, with the cost reduction that thisentails.

Furthermore the arrangement of the loading inlet of salt container 14above the laundry loading-unloading opening, i.e. on the upper part ofthe boxlike casing 2, makes significantly easier and comfortable themanual refilling of the salt container 14. Moreover, the salt container14 only temporarily contains the brine to be used for producing thechlorine-based sanitizing agent, thus there is actually no risk ofspilling around the brine during manual refilling of the salt container14.

Moreover the brine draining system including the drain opening 27 andthe water-permeable cover 30 significantly improves the salinity degreeof the brine arriving on the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawerhousing 24, thus improving performances of the electrolytic cell 18.

Last, but not least, incorporation of the electrochemical device 13 intothe detergent dispenser 10 greatly simplifies the assembly of thelaundry washing machine 1, with a significant reduction of the overallproduction costs.

Clearly, changes may be made to the laundry washing machine 1 and to theelectrochemical device 13 without, however, departing from the scope ofthe present invention.

For example, according to a first non-shown alternative embodiment, theelectrochemical reactor 16 could channel/feed the chlorine-basedsanitizing agent directly into the washing tub 3 without involving theplatelike water conveyor 40 of drawer flush circuit 25 and thebasin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24.

In other words the pump assembly 19 could feed the chlorine-basedsanitizing agent directly into washing tub 3 bypassing the detergentdispenser 10. In this alternative embodiment, therefore, the platelikewater conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10 would lack thesanitizing-agent delivery line 44.

According to a further non-shown alternative embodiment, furthermore,the drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10 may lack the waterdistributor 41, and the fresh-water supply circuit 11 may have a numberof electrically-operated on-off valves each of which is interposedbetween the water mains and a respective water delivery portion ofplatelike water conveyor 40. Preferably each of these on-off valves isfurthermore directly controlled by the appliance electronic controlunit.

With reference to FIG. 12, according to an alternative embodiment ofelectrolytic reactor 16, the electrolytic cell 18 is separated frombrine container 17 and is located along the fresh-water supply circuit11, or more precisely along the main water delivery line 70 offresh-water supply circuit 11, so as to be permanently crossed by thefresh water directed to the detergent dispenser 10 or to the washing tub3.

In other words, in this alternative embodiment the water inlet of thedrawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10 receives the freshwater of the water mains directly from the electrolytic cell 18.

More in detail, in this alternative embodiment, the electrolytic cell 18of electrolytic reactor 16 includes a water-tight closed container 100which is arranged along the main water delivery line 70 of fresh-watersupply circuit 11 so as to be permanently crossed by the fresh waterdirected towards the detergent dispenser 10, and is additionally adaptedto also receive the brine previously contained into the brine container17. Preferably the water-tight closed container 100 furthermore hasnearly the same capacity as brine container 17 so as to be able tocontain a given amount of water or brine preferably substantially equalto that containable into the brine container 17.

The water-tight closed container 100 internally accommodates the two,preferably platelike, electrodes 53 of electrolytic cell 18, so thatelectro-chlorination of the brine takes place inside the samewater-tight closed container 100 and the resulting chlorine-basedsanitizing agent accumulates therein.

In this alternative embodiment, therefore, the chlorine-based sanitizingagent preferably enters into the detergent dispenser 10 via the drawerflush circuit 25, or rather via the water inlet of the water distributor41 of drawer flush circuit 25.

Obviously, in this alternative embodiment, the platelike water conveyor40 of detergent dispenser 10 preferably lacks the sanitizing-agentdelivery line 44.

The brine container 17 of electrolytic reactor 16, in turn, preferablyincludes a single unpressurized storage tank or vessel 101 which isagain preferably located immediately underneath the drawer housing 24,and directly communicates with the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24 so as to receive and accumulate substantially thewhole brine arriving on the same bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24.

More in detail, the storage tank or vessel 101 is preferably dimensionedto catch and accumulate a given amount of brine preferably rangingbetween 100 and 250 ml (millilitres), and is preferably firmlyattached/fixed to the bottom of drawer housing 24, preferablysubstantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion 37of drawer housing 24.

Preferably the storage tank or vessel 101 is furthermore fluidicallyconnected to the superjacent basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawerhousing 24 so that the brine arriving onto the bottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24 is allowed to freely flow by gravity into the samestorage tank or vessel 101.

In this alternative embodiment, furthermore, the electrolytic reactor 16preferably comprises, in place of pump assembly 19, a small,electrically-powered pump assembly 102 which is capable of selectivelypumping/moving the brine (i.e. the salt water) accumulated into thebrine container 17 (i.e. into the unpressurized storage tank or vessel101), from the brine container 17 to the water-tight closed container100 of electrolytic cell 18. When deactivated, pump assembly 102 ispreferably moreover capable of watertight isolating the brine container17 from the electrolytic cell 18.

In other words, pump assembly 102 is interposed between the brinecontainer 17, or rather the storage tank or vessel 101, and thewater-tight closed container 100 of electrolytic cell 18.

With reference to FIG. 12, preferably, though not necessarily, thefresh-water supply circuit 11 additionally includes a second auxiliarywater delivery line 104 which is connected/connectable to the watermains and is structured to channel, on command, the fresh water of thewater mains towards the water inlet of water distributor 41 bypassingthe water-tight closed container 100 of electrolytic cell 18. Also thissecond auxiliary water delivery line 104 is preferably directlycontrolled by the appliance electronic control unit.

More in detail, the auxiliary water delivery line 104 preferablybasically comprises: a third electrically-operated on-off valve 105which is preferably located on the rear wall of boxlike casing 2,preferably immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 ofcasing 2, is connectable to the water mains and is preferably directlycontrolled by the appliance electronic control unit; and a third tube106 connecting the on-off valve 105 directly to the water inlet of thewater distributor 41 bypassing the whole electrolytic cell 18.

In this second alternative embodiment the electrochemical device 13operates as follows.

Timely before the sanitizing or bleaching step, the appliance electroniccontrol unit activates the water supply line 15 of electrochemicaldevice 13 (i.e. controls the water distributor 41 of drawer flushcircuit 25) so as to channel a given amount of fresh water of the watermains into the salt container 14 (i.e. into the salt compartment 26 ofdetergent drawer 22), thus dissolving at least part of the salt grainscontained therein and form a given amount of brine that freely flows andaccumulates into the brine container 17 (i.e. into the storage tank orvessel 101 located immediately underneath the drawer housing 24).

Either the main water delivery line 70 or the auxiliary water deliveryline 104 may be used for feeding the fresh water of the water mainstowards the water distributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25.

Immediately before the sanitizing or bleaching step of the washing cycleand when no further fresh water is to be channelled towards thedetergent dispenser 10 or the washing tub 3, the appliance electroniccontrol unit firstly activates the pump assembly 102 so as to move thebrine (i.e. the salt water) accumulated into the brine container 17(i.e. into the storage tank or vessel 101), from the brine container 17to the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. to the water-tight closed container100).

Preferably, before moving the brine to the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. tothe water-tight closed container 100), the appliance electronic controlunit additionally puts the water outlet of electrolytic cell 18 (i.e.the water outlet of water-tight closed container 100) in fluidcommunication with the water drain line 80 so as to channel towards thedrain sump any liquid coming out of electrolytic cell 18.

As an alternative, the appliance electronic control unit could put thewater outlet of electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. the water outlet of thewater-tight closed container 100) in fluid communication with any one ofthe first or the third water-delivery portion of platelike waterconveyor 40.

When the brine is moved into the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. into thewater-tight closed container 100), the appliance electronic control unitactivates the electric power unit of electrolytic cell 18 so as toperform the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine containedinto the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. into the water-tight closedcontainer 100).

Since no fresh water flows through the water-tight closed container 100of electrolytic cell 18, the chlorine-based sanitizing agent resultingfrom the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine then accumulatesinside the electrolytic cell 18, or rather into the water-tight closedcontainer 100.

After a given timespan preferably ranging between 5 and 15 minutes, theappliance electronic control unit, assuming that theelectro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into theelectrolytic cell 18 (i.e. into the water-tight closed container 100) iscompleted, and that a suitable amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agentis actually contained into the same electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. into thewater-tight closed container 100), controls the main water delivery line70 of fresh-water supply circuit 11 and the drawer flush circuit 25 ofdetergent dispenser 10 so as to channel, through the electrolytic cell18 (i.e. through the water-tight closed container 100), a flow of freshwater of the water mains that flushes the whole chlorine-basedsanitizing agent accumulated into the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. intothe water-tight closed container 100) straight into the washing tub 3.

More in detail, in this alternative embodiment, the appliance electroniccontrol unit preferably firstly controls the water distributor 41 ofdrawer flush circuit 25 so as to channel any liquid arriving from theelectrolytic cell 18 (i.e. from the water-tight closed container 100)preferably directly towards the third water-delivery portion ofplatelike water conveyor 40 or alternatively towards one of the firstwater-delivery portions of platelike water conveyor 40; and thentemporarily opens the on-off valve 72 of water delivery line 70 so as tofeed, towards the washing tub 3, an amount of fresh water that flowsthough the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. through the water-tight closedcontainer 100) and flushes the whole chlorine-based sanitizing agentaccumulated therein into the washing tub 3, so as to perform thesanitizing or bleaching step of the washing cycle.

If the electrolytic cell 18 is to be washed out before continuing thewashing cycle, after having flushed out the chlorine-based sanitizingagent contained into the electrolytic cell 18, the appliance electroniccontrol unit optionally temporarily puts the water outlet ofelectrolytic cell 18 (i.e. the water outlet of water-tight closedcontainer 100) in fluid communication with the water drain line 80, andthen waits the end of the sanitizing or bleaching step of the washingcycle for activating the fresh-water supply circuit 11, or rather themain water delivery line 70 of fresh-water supply circuit 11, forfeeding through the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. through the water-tightclosed container 100) a flow of fresh water that bypasses the washingtub 3 and arrives straight into the drain sump (not shown) or into thesuction of the electric pump thus to be drained out of the laundrywashing machine 1 together with the mixture of water and chlorine-basedsanitizing agent arriving from contained washing tub 3.

With reference to FIG. 13, according to a further alternativeembodiment, the salt container 14 of electrochemical device 13 ispreferably located/incorporated into a supplementary drawer 122 which isfitted/inserted in manually extractable manner into a corresponding,preferably substantially basin-shaped, second drawer housing 124 whichis preferably discrete and spaced apart from the drawer housing 24 ofdetergent drawer 22, and is preferably located/recessed inside theboxlike casing 2 substantially horizontally aligned to the drawerhousing 24 of detergent drawer 22.

Preferably the appliance control panel 21 is furthermore located onfront wall 6 of casing 2, astride the vertical midplane of boxlikecasing 2, and the entrances of drawer housings 24 and 124 are arrangedon opposite sides of said control panel 20, preferably immediatelyunderneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2.

More in detail, in this alternative embodiment the detergent drawer 22lacks the salt compartment 26, whereas the supplementary drawer 122 ispreferably provided with a substantially basin-shaped, salt compartment(not visible in FIG. 13) which is structured/dimensioned for beingmanually fillable with a given quantity of consumable salt grains ofsodium chloride (NaCl) to be used for producing the brine to bechannelled into the electrolytic cell 18.

The water supply line 15, in turn, is structured to selectively channel,when the supplementary drawer 122 is completely recessed into thecorresponding drawer housing 124, a given amount of water into the saltcontainer of said supplementary drawer 122 so as to dissolve at leastpart of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount ofbrine (i.e. the salt water).

Preferably the bottom of this salt compartment is moreover provided witha large pass-through drain opening (not visible in FIG. 13) which issuitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water)formed inside the same salt compartment to freely fall by gravity on thebottom of drawer housing 124.

Also in this embodiment, therefore, a prolonged stagnation of the brineinside the salt container 14 is prevented.

Likewise drain opening 27, also this latter drain opening is preferablyclosed by a platelike water-permeable cover (not visible in FIG. 13)having a water-permeable structure designed for preventing the saltgrains contained into the salt compartment of supplementary drawer 122to accidentally spill out of the same salt compartment and fall on thebottom of drawer housing 124.

Likewise the water-permeable cover 30, this latter water-permeable coverpreferably also has a water-permeable structure which is suitablydesigned/dimensioned to slow down the outflow of the brine from the saltcompartment of supplementary drawer 122 onto the bottom of drawerhousing 124, thus to cause a temporary stay of the water into the samesalt compartment.

Preferably the supplementary drawer 122 is additionally provided with amanually openable, upper lid assembly 131 which is arranged on top ofthe salt compartment of the same supplementary drawer 122, and isstructured to selectively close the upper mouth of said saltcompartment. Likewise the lid assembly 31, the lid assembly 131 ispreferably structured to receive the water from the water supply line15, and to distribute said water into the salt compartment ofsupplementary drawer 122.

In this alternative embodiment, the at least one unpressurized storagetank or vessel of brine container 17 is preferably located beneathdrawer housing 124, and moreover preferably directly communicates withthe bottom of the same drawer housing 124 so as to allow the brine (i.e.salt water) to freely flow by gravity from bottom of drawer housing 124to the same brine container 16.

With reference to FIG. 14, in a still further alternative embodiment theappliance control panel 21 is preferably located on front of asupplementary drawer 222 which is fitted/inserted in extractable mannerinto a corresponding, preferably substantially basin-shaped, seconddrawer housing 224 which is preferably discrete and spaced apart fromthe drawer housing 24 of detergent drawer 22, and is preferablylocated/recessed inside the boxlike casing 2 substantially horizontallyaligned to the drawer housing 24 of detergent drawer 22.

In this alternative embodiment, the salt container 14 of electrochemicaldevice 13 is preferably located/incorporated into said supplementarydrawer 222, behind the control panel 21.

More in detail, in this alternative embodiment the detergent drawer 22lacks the salt compartment 26, whereas the supplementary drawer 222 ispreferably provided with a substantially basin-shaped, salt compartment226 which is structured/dimensioned for being manually fillable with agiven quantity of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) to beused for producing the brine to be channelled into the electrolytic cell18. The water supply line 15, in turn, is structured to selectivelychannel, when the supplementary drawer 222 is completely recessed intothe corresponding drawer housing 224, a given amount of water into thesalt container 226 of said supplementary drawer 222 so as to dissolve atleast part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amountof brine (i.e. the salt water).

Preferably the bottom of salt compartment 226 is furthermore providedwith a large pass-through drain opening (not visible in FIG. 13) whichis suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water)formed inside salt compartment 226 to freely fall by gravity on thebottom of drawer housing 224.

Also in this embodiment, therefore, a prolonged stagnation of the brineinside the salt container 14 is prevented.

Likewise the drain opening 27, this latter drain opening is preferablyclosed by a platelike water-permeable cover (not visible in FIG. 12)having a water-permeable structure designed for preventing the saltgrains contained into salt compartment 226 of supplementary drawer 222to accidentally spill out of salt compartment 226 and fall on the bottomof drawer housing 224.

Likewise the water-permeable cover 30, this latter water-permeable coverpreferably has a water-permeable structure which is suitablydesigned/dimensioned to slow down the outflow of the brine from saltcompartment 226 onto the bottom of drawer housing 224, thus to cause atemporary stay of the water/brine into the salt compartment 226.

Preferably the supplementary drawer 222 is additionally provided with afunnel-shaped lid 231 which is arranged on top of salt compartment 226so as to ease the pouring/loading of the consumable salt grains withinthe salt compartment 226.

In this alternative embodiment, the at least one unpressurized storagetank or vessel of brine container 17 is preferably located beneathdrawer housing 224, and moreover preferably directly communicates withthe bottom of the same drawer housing 224 so as to allow the brine (i.e.salt water) to freely flow by gravity from the bottom of drawer housing224 to the unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container 17.

With reference to FIG. 15, in a still further alternative embodiment thesalt container 14 of electrochemical device 13 is preferably locatedimmediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2, andthe unsealed loading inlet of the same salt container 14 is directlyaccessible via a trapdoor 300 present on the upper worktop or top wall12.

More in detail, in this alternative embodiment the detergent drawer 22lacks the salt compartment 26, whereas the salt container 14 basicallycomprises: a basin-shaped container 326 which is preferably recessedinto the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2, underneath thetrapdoor 300 present on the upper worktop or top wall 12, and isstructured/dimensioned so as to be manually fillable with a givenquantity of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) to be usedfor producing the brine to be channelled into the electrolytic cell 18;and preferably also a funnel-shaped lid 331 that closes the upper mouthof said basin-shaped container 326 so as to ease the pouring/loading ofthe consumable salt grains within the basin-shaped container 326.

In this alternative embodiment, the water supply line 15 is obviouslystructured to selectively channel a given amount of water into thebasin-shaped container 326 so as to dissolve at least part of the saltgrains contained therein and form a given amount of brine (i.e. the saltwater).

The at least one unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container17, in turn, is preferably located beneath the basin-shaped container326 and moreover preferably directly communicates with the bottom of thebasin-shaped container 326 so as to receive and accumulate the wholebrine previously formed into the same basin-shaped container 326. Alsoin this embodiment, therefore, a prolonged stagnation of the brineinside the salt container 14 is prevented.

More in detail this unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brinecontainer 17 preferably communicates with the superjacent basin-shapedcontainer 326 via a draining water-way structured so as to allow thebrine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside the basin-shaped container 326to freely flow by gravity into the same unpressurized storage tank orvessel.

Likewise drain opening 27, this draining water-way is preferablystructured for preventing the salt grains contained into thebasin-shaped container 326 to accidentally fall into the beneath-locatedbrine unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container 17, andpreferably also for slowing down the outflow of the brine from thebasin-shaped container 326 to the beneath-located brine container 17, soas to cause a temporary stay of the water/brine into the basin-shapedcontainer 326.

Finally, according to a further alternative embodiment, the electrolyticcell 18 may be the electrolytic cell disclosed in WO2016/162327.

1-44. (canceled)
 45. A laundry washing machine comprising: an outercasing; a washing tub inside the outer casing; a rotatable drum housedin an axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub and configured tohold laundry to be washed; a detergent dispenser configured to supplydetergent into the washing tub; a fresh water supply circuit configuredto selectively channel fresh water from an external water source to thedetergent dispenser and/or the washing tub; and an electrochemicaldevice comprising: an electrolytic cell capable of internally convertinga brine into a chlorine-based sanitizing agent to be channeled into thewashing tub, an unpressurized salt container configured to contain agiven amount of consumable salt grains and having an unsealed loadinginlet that is directly exposed or exposable to the outside of the outercasing, a water supply line configured to selectively channel a givenamount of water into the salt container to dissolve at least part of thesalt grains contained therein and form a quantity of brine, and anunpressurized brine container in fluid communication with the saltcontainer and configured to collect and contain the quantity of brineformed in the salt container to thereby avoid any prolonged stagnationof water and brine in the salt container, and wherein the electrolyticcell in in communication with or located in the brine container so as tobe in contact with the quantity of brine contained in the brinecontainer.
 46. The laundry washing machine according to claim 45,wherein the brine container is located beneath the salt container and isin direct fluid communication with the salt container such that thequantity of brine flows by gravity from the salt container to the brinecontainer.
 47. The laundry washing machine according to claim 45,wherein the electrolytic cell is located inside the brine container. 48.The laundry washing machine according to claim 47, wherein theelectrochemical device additionally comprises a first pump assemblyconfigured to selectively move liquid accumulated in the brinecontainer, from the brine container to the detergent dispenser or thewashing tub.
 49. The laundry washing machine according to claim 45,wherein the electrolytic cell is separated from the brine container. 50.The laundry washing machine according to claim 49, wherein theelectrochemical device additionally comprises a second pump assemblyconfigured to selectively move the quantity of brine accumulated in thebrine container, from the brine container to the electrolytic cell, andwherein.
 51. The laundry washing machine according to claim 50, whereinthe second pump assembly, when deactivated, is configured to isolate thebrine container from the electrolytic cell in a watertight manner. 52.The laundry washing machine according to claim 49, wherein theelectrolytic cell is located along the fresh-water supply circuit. 53.The laundry washing machine according to claim 45, wherein the saltcontainer and the brine container are located above the washing tub. 54.The laundry washing machine according to claim 45, wherein the unsealedloading inlet of the salt container is located on a front wall or on anupper worktop or top wall of the outer casing.
 55. The laundry washingmachine according to claim 45, wherein the salt container is dimensionedto contain an amount of consumable salt grains sufficient for producingan amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent sufficient for performing asanitizing or bleaching process in several washing cycles.
 56. Thelaundry washing machine according to claim 45, comprising at least onedrawer that is inserted in extractable manner into a correspondingdrawer housing located inside the casing, and the salt container islocated on the drawer.
 57. The laundry washing machine according toclaim 56, wherein the drawer comprises a basin-shaped salt compartmentconfigured to contain the given quantity of consumable salt grains; andthe water supply line is configured to selectively channel, when thedrawer is completely inserted into the drawer housing, the given amountof water into the salt compartment so as to dissolve at least part ofthe salt grains contained therein and form the quantity of brine. 58.The laundry washing machine according to claim 57, wherein the drawerhas a brine draining system configured to allow the brine to flow out ofthe salt compartment and fall on a bottom of the corresponding drawerhousing after a temporary stay inside the salt compartment.
 59. Thelaundry washing machine according to claim 57, wherein the drawerfurther comprises one or more basin-shaped detergent compartments thatare arranged beside the salt compartment and are each configured toreceive a respective given amount of detergent, softener or otherwashing agent; and the laundry washing machine further comprises adrawer flush circuit connected to the fresh-water supply circuit forreceiving the water of the external water source, and configured toselectively channel the water into any one of the detergentcompartments, so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener orother washing agent out of the respective detergent compartment and downonto the bottom of the drawer housing.
 60. The laundry washing machineaccording to claim 59, wherein the water supply line is incorporatedinto the drawer flush circuit.
 61. The laundry washing machine accordingto claim 59, wherein the drawer flush circuit comprises a platelikewater conveyor that forms an upper lid of the drawer housing and isprovided with a number of water delivery portions each structured toallow the outflow of water from the platelike water conveyor towards thebeneath-located drawer; and wherein the electrolytic cell is in fluidcommunication with the platelike water conveyor for channelling thechlorine-based sanitizing agent into the washing tub via the platelikewater conveyor.
 62. The laundry washing machine according to claim 61,wherein the platelike water conveyor comprises an internalsanitizing-agent delivery line configured to separately channel thechlorine-based sanitizing agent arriving from the electrolytic celldirectly into the bottom of the drawer housing, without passing throughthe detergent compartment/s of the drawer.
 63. The laundry washingmachine according to claim 56, wherein the brine container is locatedimmediately underneath the drawer housing and includes an unpressurizedstorage tank which directly communicates with the bottom of the drawerhousing so as to receive and accumulate preferably substantially thewhole quantity of brine arriving on the bottom of the drawer housing.64. The laundry washing machine according to claim 63, wherein thebottom of the drawer housing is divided in into two separatedbasin-shaped bottom portions which are located, when the drawer iscompletely inserted into the corresponding drawer housing, one beneaththe detergent compartment/s and the other beneath the salt compartmentof the drawer; and wherein the brine container in in communication witha one of the basin-shaped bottom portions beneath the salt compartmentof the drawer.
 65. The laundry washing machine according to claim 45,wherein the salt container is configured to contain a given amount ofconsumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl), and the electrolyticcell is configured to perform electro-chlorination of the brine arrivingfrom the brine container, so as to produce water-diluted sodiumhypochlorite.
 66. A laundry washing machine comprising: an outer casing;a washing tub inside the outer casing; a rotatable drum housed in anaxially rotatable manner inside the washing tub and configured to holdlaundry to be washed; a detergent dispenser configured to supplydetergent into the washing tub; a fresh water supply circuit configuredto selectively channel fresh water from an external water source to thedetergent dispenser and/or the washing tub; and an electrochemicaldevice comprising an electrolytic cell capable of internally convertinga brine into a chlorine-based sanitizing agent to be channeled into thewashing tub; wherein the detergent dispenser comprises: a drawer housinglocated inside the outer casing, a detergent drawer selectivelyinsertable into the drawer housing and having one or more detergentcompartments each structured for being manually fillable with a givenamount of detergent, softener or other washing agent, and a drawer flushcircuit connected to the fresh-water supply circuit for receiving thewater of the water mains, and having a platelike water conveyor thatforms an upper lid of the drawer housing with a number of first waterdelivery portions each structured to allow the outflow of the water ofthe water mains from the platelike water conveyor towards a respectivebeneath-located detergent compartment of the detergent drawer; andwherein the electrolytic reactor communicates with the platelike waterconveyor to channel the chlorine-based sanitizing agent into the washingtub via the platelike water conveyor.